Emil tyden



n s|4,ss4. Patented Nov. 22, I898. E. TYDEN.

- SEAL.

(Application filed Feb. 5, 1898.) (No Model.)

Winefige 29 g d3 PATENT EMIL TYDEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SEAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 614,634, dated November 22, 1898. Application filed February 5, 1898. Serial No.'669,172. (N0 model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMIL TYDEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Self-Locking Seals, which are fully set forth in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation showing a hasp secured by a bolt which is retained by my improved self-locking seal. Fig. 2 is a plan of my seal having the cap removed to show the interior structure, the position of the parts being that occupied before locking. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the position of the parts after looking. Fig. 4 is a section at the line 4 4- on Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is an end or top view of the case. Fig. (i is a plan of the blank from which the trip per-sheath is formed by folding. Fig. 7 is a plan of the tripper. Fig. Sis an elevation of a bolt suitable for use in the seal illustrated in the foregoing figures. Fig. 9 is an elevation of a modified form of seal applied to a suitably-modified bolt. Fig. 10 is a sectional plan or edge view of the same, sectionbeing made at the line 10 10 on Fig. 9.

The present invention involves fundamentally the locking principle which is shown in my United States Patent No. 594,580, dated November 30, 1897; but this principle is herein embodied in a device adapted to be secured to a locking-bolt or other fastening by means which does not require the end of the tripper which is to be engaged by the catch to be first passed through the bolt or other device which is to'be locked, and therefore permits the tripper to be by construction lodged in the seal body or case and requiring only movement therein to cause it to become engaged with the catch.

In the form of the device shown in Figs. 1 to 8, inclusive, the tripper, which is by construction lodged in the seal body or case, has an end which protrudes therefrom alongside of a protruding arm of the case, these two parts having apertures which may register with each other and permit the head of the bolt to be inserted through them, one of the parts having a slot running from the aperture and the bolt having a neck which is drawn into such slot by the locking move ment of the tripper, thus preventing the escape of the head.

In the form shown in Figs. 9 and 10 the tripper is formed in one piece with the protruding arm of the case, constituting an exterior loop large enough at unlocked position to be slipped over the head of the bolt, but which is reduced by the movement of the tripper to locked position, so that it only encompasses the neck and will not permit the escape of the head.

These two forms sufliciently illustrate the scope of the idea involved and will suggest to any one familiar with the art other applications of the same idea within the scope of this part of my invention.

In both forms illustrated the arm of the case, alongside of which the tripper extends, is preferably formed of a separate piece of metal from the case proper-that is to say,

from the part which incloses and conceals the catch. This part of the case, which includes the extended arm, I term the trippersheath, because it serves as the guide and seat for the tripper in its movement from unlocked to locked position. A is this trippersheath, which is most conveniently made of a piece of sheet metal (shown in a blank at Fig. 6) adapted to be folded at c, bringing the two similarly-shaped leaves or wings 'A and A face to face and with the apertures A A coinciding. The metal is struck out of the fold a to form a lug or engaging offset a, which serves to fix the position of the sheath in the case, which is approximately spherical in form and made of two pieces B and B secured together by engaging flanges at a diametric plane in a manner familiar to metal-workers, and which will be understood from the drawings without further explana tion. The part B of the case has at diametrically opposite points broad notches B B, in which the tripped sheath is lodged, the lug or offset ct lodging within the case and serving to stop the sheath against longitudinal movement therein, lateral movement being prevented by the fitting of the sheath in the notches. An aperture a is left through the fold a, when the offset a is struck out, thepurpose of which will be hereinafter explained.

C is the tripper. It is lodged between the leaves A and A of the sheath and extends out between them through the notch B In this seal I have shown four catches D D D D, each being a coiled ring of spring-wire whose ends lap in the normal condition of the coil, but which is adapted to be spread open to permit the ends to be entered through aper tures a and a in the two leaves A A of the sheath. The tripper C has a tooth c, which enters the slot a of the sheath. It has also an elongated aperture or slot C in position to register with the apertures a and (1 When the tripper is at proper longitudinal position, but out of registration therewith at unlocked position, as seen at Fig. 2, so that at that po-- sition the catches D D spread open and, having their ends entered through the slots at and a, are held open by the tripper inserted between the leaves of the sheath. The parts being assembled in this position, the cappiece B of the case being put in position and the two parts of the case clenched together, the aperture G of the tripper, in the form shown in Figs. 1 to 8, registers with the apertures A and A of the sheath, and the tooth prevents the withdrawal of the tripper, and while in this condition the seal may be applied to the bolt E by inserting the head E of thelatter through the three registered apertures. The tripper being now thrust inward, the neck E of the bolt passes into the slot or narrow elongation A A in the sheath, and in this movement the tripper-slot O is brought to the ends of the catches D D, which immediately close up, thrusting their ends through the slot 0, and thus securing the tripper with respect to the sheath. After the engagement of the catches with the tripper the latter has a further range of inward movement by virtue of the length of the slot 0, which carries the neck of the bolt still farther intothe slot A The neck E is preferably only long enough to accommodate the thickness of the three pieces of metal whichare thus engaged about it, so that there is no room for manipulating the metal by folding it up or otherwise inutilating the edges of the slots to permit disengagement, or at least so that such manipulation cannot be effected Without obviously ruining the device or rupturing the metal beyond concealment.

In the form shown in Figs. 9 and 10 the construction is the same as above described, except that instead of or in addition to providing apertures O and A and A the tripper is made continuous and integral with one leaf A of the sheath and is looped to bring its ends back between the two leaves, as seen in those figures, the loop A being large enough when the tripper is at unlocked position to admit the head of the bolt and small enough when the tripper is thrust into locked position to prevent the escape of the head of the bolt through it. The diiference between the size of the neck and head of the bolt will necessarily be sufficient to more than cover the enlargement of the loop which is I permitted by the length of the slot 0. The utpose of the slot 0 will now be explained. Both leaves of the sheath extend entirely through the case and appear beyond itthat is, at the side opposite that at which the loop A or the apertures A A and O are formed, and one leaf of the sheath has at its protruding part an aperture A. 011 said leaf there may be formed in any suitable manner, as by embossing, figures or characters which may be read in connection with a figure or character which is formed on the tripper at a position which causes it to appear through the aperture A when the tripper is thrust into locked position, (see Fig. 3,) and the tripper has preferably an additional character, which is disclosed through the aperture A when the tripper is thrust inward the farther distance permitted by the length of the slot 0, and the figure first disclosed is concealed in the sheath beyond the aperture by this additional movement. The tripper may have also characters which at unlocked position are concealed in thesheath beyond the aperture and which are disclosed beyond the end of the sheath by the locking movement or by the subsequent additional movement of the tripper in the same direction. The purpose of this feature of construction is that the number of the seal, in so far as that nu mber is made up of characters which are placed upon thetripper, (and the entire number may be so placed, the exterior characters on the tripper-sheath being omitted, if desired,) shall be unknown until the seal is locked, and that even when thus looked a portion at least of the characters constituting the serial number or other arbitrary record-mark shall be concealed, so that the record of the seal cannot be taken unless the operator handles it and moves the tripper in the sheath to dis close the concealed figures or characters, the movement required being preferably such as will test the integrity of the device and disclose whether it has been tampered with. Broadly, the expedient of concealing part of the serial number at one position of the mow able securing device is covered in my application, Serial No. 658,158, filed November 11, 1897, and it is not broadly claimed in this case.

The use of a plurality of catches D D D, &c., whether the number be two or more, is to make the seal, as respects the possibility of picking it, substantially a combinationlock, because in order to release the tripper by any manipulation of the catches, if that should be possible through apertures-which might be formed in the case and afterward concealed, it would be necessary not simply to bring one of the catches into position where its ends might be spread so as to permit it to he slipped out of the slot 0 of the tripper, but to bring all the rings to such position at the same time, and it would be practically impossible, even if one ring could be thus manipulated, to keep it in the right position While attempting to manipulate the remainder. I have shown four rings, but evidently the number which may be employed is limited by the space which may be provided in the case.

I claim 1. In a self-locking seal, a catch and a tripper and a case which incloses the catch and in which the tripper is by construction lodged and retained at all unlocked positions; the tripper bearing a character which is concealed Within the case at all unlocked positions of the tripper, the movement of the tripper to locked position being such as to disclose such character.

2. In a self-locking seal, a catch and a tripper, and a case which incloses the catch and in which the tripper is by construction lodged and retained-at all unlocked positions; the tripper having a range of movement with respect to the case after it is engaged by the catch, and bearing a character which is concealed by the case at all locked positions and disclosed at one limit of said range of n1ovement.

3. In a self-locking seal, a catch and a tripper, and a case which incloses the catch and in which the tripper is lodged and retained at all unlocked positions, the tripper bearing a serial number or other arbitrary succession of characters; the case having an aperture through which part of such, characters may be disclosed, the unlocked position of the tripper in the case being such as to conceal a part, at least, of the characters, and the locked position being such as to disclose the same through the aperture.

t. In a self-locking seal, a catch and a tripper, and a case which incloses the catch in which the tripper is by construction lodged and retained at all unlocked positions; the tripper bearing a serial number or arbitrary succession of characters, a part of said characters being concealed within the case at all unlocked positions, and disclosed by the movement of the tripper to locked position, the tripper having a range of movement while locked adapted to disclose other of said characters.

5. In a self-locking seal, a catch and a tripper, and a case which incloses the catch, and in which the tripper is by construction lodged and retained at all unlocked positions, the case having an aperture which discloses the tripper, the tripper being adapted to be thrust entirely through the case and to protrude beyond it, and bearing a plurality of characters which are concealed by the case at all unlocked positions of the tripper, the movement of the tripper to locked position being adapted to disclose part of such characters through said aperture, the tripper having a range of movement, while locked, adapted to disclose other characters through said aperture, and to disclose still other characters at its protruding end beyond the case.

6. In a self-locking seal, in combination with the body or case, an elastically-operating catch lodged in the case, adapted to react into locking position; a tripper which is by construction lodged and retained in the case with range of movement relative thereto and which, in position of construction, holds the catch under tension ready to react upon being released, and at another position in such range of movement releases the catch, the latter being adapted when released to react into engagement with the tripper.

7. In a self-locking seal, in combination with the body or case, a tripper which by construction is lodged and retained in the case, an elastically-operating catch lodged within the case and held under tension by the tripper ready to react upon being released, the tripper being stopped aganist movement in one direction with respect to the case and free to move in the other direction, and being adapted, upon movement in said other direction, to release the catch, and the catch being adapted upon being released to engage the tripper and means whereby such movement of the tripper secures the seal to the object to be protected by it.

8. In a self-locking seal, in combination with the body or case, a plurality of elastically-operating catches lodged unattached therein and inclosed thereby; a tripper which extends within the case and is adapted to be engaged by said catches, and suitable means for holding the catches under tension ready to engage the same when tripped, the tripper having range of movement with respect to the case and adapted in such range of movement to secure the seal to the object to be protected and trip the catches.

9. In a self-locking seal, in combination with the case, the locking element therein, being a plurality of elastically operating catches each of which is normally a closed coil adapted to be put under tension by being spread open and which are by construction lodged unattached in the case with their ends spread; a spreading element which is movable relatively to the catches to release the latter from tension and permit them to close.

10. In a self-locking seal,a catch and a tripper and a case which incloses the catch, the tripper being by construction lodged in the case, one of said parts bearing a character which is concealed by the other at unlocked positions, the movement of the tripper. to

locked position being such as to disclose such character.

11. In a self-locking seal,a catch and a tripper and a case which incloses the catch, the tripper being by construction lodged in the case, the tripper after it is engaged by the catch having a range of movement with re spect to the case, one of said parts bearing a character which is concealed by the other at all looked positions and disclosed at one limit of said range of movement.

12. In a self-locking seaha catch and a tripper and a case which incloses the catch, the tripper being by construction lodged in the case, one of said parts bearing a serial number or other arbitrary succession of characters,certain of said characters being concealed by the other of said relatively-movable parts at all unlocked positions, and disclosed by the movement of the tripper to locked posi- 10 tion, the tripper having" a range of movement,

While locked adapted to disclose other of said characters.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of two Witnesses, this 31st day of January, A. D. 1898.

EMIL TYDEN.

\Vitnesses:

CHAS. S. BURTON, JEAN ELLIOTT. 

